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Edinburgh Tourist Information

Edinburgh has a wide range of tourist attractions for you to enjoy during your stay, from the beautiful sights at Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Botanical Gardens to the cultural experiences of The Museum of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Medical Tour.

Edinburgh is situated in the south-east of Scotland, is the second largest city in Scotland, and is also the capital of Scotland. Steeped in history and considered to be one of the most beautiful cityscapes in Europe, Edinburgh attracts over 1 million overseas visitors a year. Bursting with culture and history and with a wide range of 3 and 4 star hotels, Edinburgh is perfect for a family holiday, business trip or cultural indulgence alike.

There are world-class museums and galleries covering a range of subjects, many of them free, award-winning restaurants and bars, and popular shopping facilities, Scotland's capital has something for everyone. Edinburgh itself is a giant museum with a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the city where you will find the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town, a fascinating blend of old and modern styles. A joy to wonder around, it is no surprise Edinburgh is regarded as one of the most beautiful and elegant cities in Europe. Edinburgh also has a green and scenic landscape, with plenty of parks and gardens, cliffs, rocks and grassy hills.

Golf in Edinburgh

There is a wide choice of golf courses throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians - Edinburgh's golfing coastline. East Lothian is located just east of Edinburgh and is one of Scotland's best golf regions with 22 courses, offering a course to suit all standards and tastes. One of the world's first established golf clubs, The Gentleman Golfers of Leith was formed in Edinburgh in 1744.

Within the city there are 6 courses owned by the City of Edinburgh which cater for the beginner or child friendly 9 holes at Portobello, to the spectacular challenging 18 hole course at the Braid Hills. These golf courses do not require you to be a member or have an official golf handicap ?just pay and play, making them ideal for visitors on holiday.

Shopping in Edinburgh

Edinburgh offers superb shopping facilities with a variety of shops and malls such as the famous Princes Street, fashionable designer boutiques of the West End and up-market chic of the New Town, shoppers have plenty of choice for some serious retail therapy. Edinburgh is home to Scotland's only Harvey Nichols and is just 2 minutes from Princes Street. Edinburgh is also the perfect place to buy Scottish souvenirs and food products in particular.

Museums in Edinburgh

In the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town is the National Museum of Scotland, with the unusual, the weird and the wonderful, it tells the story of Scotland, its land, people and culture. See treasures from the edges of history and trace Scotland's story from fascinating fossils to popular culture.

Within the walls of Edinburgh Castle is a museum - the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum. On display are exhibits spanning 330 years of history, including medals, uniforms, personal items, archives and photographs. Experience the history of Scotland's only Cavalry Regiment as the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum covers the Battle of Waterloo (1815), the Crimean War, and latter battles of the 19th century such as the Nile Expedition (1884-85) and Abyssinia, the South African War of 1899-1902 and the First and Second World Wars.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland's most famous tourist attractions and the most popular in Scotland. Towering high above the city, it offers superb views over Edinburgh and plenty to see and do inside. Highlights of Edinburgh Castle include the Great Hall, which was completed in 1511 and now houses an interesting collection of weapons and armour, Mons Meg - one of the World's oldest cannons at over 550 years old, the National War Museum and the Prisons of War Exhibition, recalling the conditions the 18th century captives endured and The Honours of Scotland - the crown jewels of Scotland which consist of a crown, sceptre and sword dating from the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was established in 1670 as a medical garden and is now Scotland's premier garden where the unusual and beautiful can be found. One of Edinburgh's most popular tourist attractions, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh covers over 70 acres of beautifully landscape, capturing the imagination of visitors and providing a tranquil haven just one mile from the city centre. There are nearly 17,000 different species of plants from all over the world at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - about 7% of all known plant species.

Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport is west of the city centre at Turnhouse and sits just off the M8 motorway, making it a convenient way of travelling to the city of Edinburgh. Edinburgh Airport is officially Scotland's fastest growing airport and handled over 9 million passengers in 2008 and this number is set to rise. Edinburgh Airport offers many domestic and international destinations for travellers in the Edinburgh region, with airlines including EasyJet, Flyglobespan and Ryanair flying to other UK destinations popular and Europe.